Cocktail smoking chimneys and methods for infusing smoke into cocktails, beverages and alcoholic drinks

ABSTRACT

A cocktail smoking chimney for infusing smoke into a beverage includes a sealing base having a center and an outer perimeter. A chimney stack is aligned with the center of the sealing base and projects from a top major surface of the sealing base. A combustion chamber is disposed within the chimney stack. A smoke directing lip is aligned with the center of the sealing base and projects from a bottom major surface of the sealing base. The combustion chamber is aligned with the smoke directing lip. One or more smoke transfer openings are formed in the sealing base, each having an upper end in fluid communication with the combustion chamber and a lower end that is surrounded by the smoke directing lip. The sealing base, the chimney stack, and the smoke directing lip are made of wood. A combustible material may be packed into the combustion chamber.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present patent application is related to U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 29/767,445, filed on Jan. 22, 2021.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present patent application is generally related to systems anddevices for generating smoke, and is more specifically related tosystem, devices and methods for infusing smoke into beverages such ascocktails, beverages and alcoholic drinks.

Description of the Related Art

There have been a number of efforts directed to generating smoke andinfusing smoke into food and beverages. For example, U.S. Pat. No.6,481,344 to Green et al. discloses a smoke generating device for use inproviding flavored smoke in a controlled manner. The smoke generatingdevice includes a non-combustible, sealed, pressurizable container. Anorganic matter disposed within the container is capable of producing asmoke without igniting. The container has at least one perforation,which enables the container to become pressurized so that smoke flowsout of the container in a controlled direction and at a velocity thatdoes not combust during heating of the container.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,213 to Thomas discloses a smoke generator having anair pump with a control valve to supply a continuous controllable airsupply to a smoking fuel disposed on a grid in a fire box. Smoke isdirected to a food processor from a smoke output within the fire box andabove the grid. A chimney extends from the top of the fire box. Thefirst box is filled with a fuel that is not in the air stream so it doesnot burn. As the fuel on the grid is consumed, fuel from the chimneydrops onto the grid, which provides a continuous feed of fresh fuel sothat the smoke generator can, while unattended, generate a uniformcontrollable stream of smoke over a long period of time. A disposablefuel cartridge is provided for ease of use.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,971,305 to Thomas discloses an assembly for generating acontinuous stream of smoke for food processing (e.g., barbecue cooking).The assembly includes a reusable cartridge holder for holding upright adisposable smoke generating cartridge. The cartridge includes an outercovering enclosing a chamber. The covering includes a perforated top, anon-perforated upper portion designed to not burn during the process,and a readily combustible lower portion. At the bottom of the chamber isa readily combustible tinder material that is easily set afire by theburning lower portion. The balance of the chamber is filled with woodpellets that smolder and emit desirable smoke when ignited by thetinder, the smoke passing upward through the perforated top. Theconvection currents produce a stream of smoke without the need for afan. The pellets do not fall through the cartridge after the bottomportion burns away because they swell up and are held in place withinthe upper portion.

US 2020/0107565 to Swayne et al. disclose a device for injecting drysmoke into a food product. The device includes a smoke injector havingan external wall with a plurality of apertures formed therein thatcommunicate with a smoke-injector conduit. The smoke-injector conduit isin fluid communication with a smoke reservoir that houses dry smokingmedia therein. A fan directs dry smoke produced from the dry smokingmedia into the smoke-injector conduit so that the dry smoke is elutedthrough said plurality of apertures in order to introduce the dry smoketo an interior of a food product that has been impaled by the smokeinjector.

US 2020/0221718 to Flood et al. disclose a smoke generation pod for usein a smoke generation system. The smoke generation pod includes anenclosure that has disposed therein a material such as wood that isheated or ignited by a heating element housed within the smokegeneration pod, receiving energy from an induction coil. The smokegeneration pod has an input vent for accepting air and an output ventfor distributing smoke. The smoke is routed to an object such as a glass(with or without a liquid there within) for infusing the smoke into theliquid or onto the object. In some embodiments, the output vent has afilter. In some embodiments, some filters remove some or all of thecarcinogens from the smoke that is emitted.

CN 202311122 discloses a low-temperature smoke generator. The smokegenerator includes an outer barrel, an inner barrel and a base, wherebythe shape of the base is matched with those of the outer barrel and theinner barrel. The inner barrel is arranged in the outer barrel. Theouter barrel and the inner barrel are arranged on the base. The bottomof the outer barrel is open and the top of the outer barrel is sealed.The top of the inner barrel is open and the bottom of the inner barrelis sealed. An annular smoke and air space is formed among the outerbarrel, the inner barrel and the base. A side wall of the outer barrelis equal to or higher than that of the inner barrel. The base is aconcave or convex annular cylinder. The low-temperature smoke generatorhas a simple structure and a small overall volume, is convenient todetach and has a low cost.

In spite of the above advances, there remains a need for improvedsystems, devices and methods for infusing smoke into beverages such ascocktails. There also remains a need for efficient, economical, mobile,and simplified systems, devices and methods for infusing smoke intobeverages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a cocktail smoking chimney for infusing smoke into abeverage (e.g., a cocktail) preferably includes a sealing base having atop major surface and a bottom major surface, a chimney stack projectingfrom the top major surface of the sealing base, a combustion chamberdisposed within the chimney stack, and a smoke directing lip projectingfrom the bottom major surface of the sealing base.

In one embodiment, the combustion chamber disposed within the chimneystack is in alignment with the smoke directing lip projecting from thebottom major surface of the sealing base.

In one embodiment, one or more smoke transfer openings are formed in thesealing base. In one embodiment, each smoke transfer opening desirablyhas an upper end in communication with the combustion chamber and alower end in communication with an underside of the sealing base.

In one embodiment, the cocktail smoking chimney may be made of acombustible material such as wood. In one embodiment, the cocktailsmoking chimney may be made of one or more of the following types ofwood: apple, hickory, pecan, maple, cherry, and oak. In one embodiment,the wood may include barrel-aged wood or mesquite infused wood.

In one embodiment, the sealing base, the chimney stack and the smokedirecting lip are preferably formed from a single piece of wood and aredesirably integrally connected with one another.

In one embodiment, the wood used to make the cocktail smoking chimneymay include apple, hickory, pecan, maple, cherry, oak, barrel-aged wood,and/or wood infused with mesquite.

In one embodiment, the sealing base has a center and the chimney stackis aligned with the center of the sealing base.

In one embodiment, the smoke directing lip is aligned with the center ofthe sealing base.

In one embodiment, the upper ends of the one or more smoke transferopenings are located inside the chimney stack and the lower ends of theone or more smoke transfer openings are surrounded by the smokedirecting lip.

In one embodiment, the sealing base has a central region having a firstthickness and an outer perimeter having a second thickness that is less(i.e., thinner) than the first thickness.

In one embodiment, the top and bottom major surfaces of the sealing basepreferably taper inwardly toward one another between the central regionand the outer perimeter thereof.

In one embodiment, the sealing base may have a disc or circle shape.

In one embodiment, a screen may be disposed within the combustionchamber of the chimney stack. In one embodiment, a combustible materialmay be disposed within the combustion chamber of the chimney stack. Thescreen may support the combustible material.

In one embodiment, the combustible material may be wood chips, woodpowder and/or spices.

In one embodiment, the wood chips and the wood powder may be made of oneor more of the following types of wood: apple, hickory, pecan, maple,cherry, and oak. In one embodiment, the wood chips and wood powder mayinclude barrel-aged wood or mesquite infused wood.

In one embodiment, the spices placed into the combustion chamber mayinclude cinnamon, rosemary and/or chai.

In one embodiment, a cocktail smoking chimney for infusing smoke into abeverage desirably includes a sealing base having a central region, anouter perimeter, a top major surface that extends between the centralregion and the outer perimeter, and a bottom major surface that extendsbetween the central region and the outer perimeter.

In one embodiment, a chimney stack is preferably aligned with thecentral region of the sealing base and projects above the top majorsurface of the sealing base. In one embodiment, a combustion chamber ispreferably disposed within the chimney stack.

In one embodiment, a smoke directing lip is aligned with the centralregion of the sealing base and projects below the bottom major surfaceof the sealing base.

In one embodiment, the combustion chamber disposed within the chimneystack is aligned with the smoke directing lip projecting below thebottom major surface of the sealing base.

In one embodiment, the cocktail smoking chimney preferably has one ormore smoke transfer openings formed in the sealing base. In oneembodiment, each smoke transfer opening desirably has an upper end influid communication with the combustion chamber and a lower end that issurrounded by the smoke directing lip.

In one embodiment, the sealing base, the chimney stack, and the smokedirecting lip are preferably made of wood, such as a single piece ofwood.

In one embodiment, the central region of the sealing base preferably hasa first thickness and the outer perimeter of the sealing base preferablyhas a second thickness that is less than the first thickness.

In one embodiment, the top and bottom major surfaces of the sealing basepreferably taper inwardly toward one another between the central regionof the sealing base and the outer perimeter of the sealing base.

In one embodiment, the bottom major surface of the sealing base istapered so that when the sealing base is placed over an open upper endof a drinking glass, the sealing base will self-center on the rim of thedrinking glass to ensure that smoke directed into the enclosed spacebetween the underside of the sealing base and a top surface of abeverage poured into the drinking glass will remain within the enclosedspace for infusing into the beverage and so that the smoke cannot escapevia the outer perimeter of the sealing base.

In one embodiment, the sealing base preferably has a larger outerdiameter than the size of the opening at the open, upper end of thedrinking glass to ensure the formation of an effective seal between theunderside of the sealing base and the rim of the drinking glass.

In one embodiment, when a drinking glass is inverted for being filledwith smoke, the top major surface of the sealing base that surrounds thechimney stack is tapered so that when the open upper end of the drinkingglass is placed over the sealing base, the drinking glass withself-center on the sealing base to ensure that smoke directed into thedrinking glass will remain within the enclosed space for infusing intothe beverage and so that the smoke cannot escape via a space between therim of the drinking glass and the outer perimeter of the sealing base.

In one embodiment, when a drinking glass is inverted for being filledwith smoke, the sealing base preferably has a larger outer diameter thanthe size of the opening of the drinking glass to ensure the formation ofan effective seal between the top side of the sealing base and the rimof the inverted drinking glass.

In one embodiment, the chimney stack desirably has an open, upper endthat is spaced away from the top major surface of the sealing base and alower end that is connected with the top major surface of the sealingbase.

In one embodiment, the chimney stack preferably has an outer perimeterthat tapers inwardly between the open, upper end and the lower endthereof.

In one embodiment, a combustible material such as woods chips, woodpowder and/or spices may be disposed within the combustion chamber ofthe chimney stack.

In one embodiment, a method of infusing smoke into a beverage mayinclude pouring a beverage into a drinking glass, and placing a cocktailsmoking chimney made of wood over a rim at an open upper end of thedrinking glass to define a sealed space inside the drinking glass thatis located between an underside of the cocktail smoking chimney and atop surface of the beverage.

In one embodiment, the cocktail smoking chimney preferably includes asealing base having a top major surface that faces away from thedrinking glass and a bottom major surface that is in contact with therim at the open upper end of the drinking glass, a chimney stackprojecting from the top major surface of the sealing base, a combustionchamber disposed within the chimney stack, and one or more smoketransfer openings formed in the sealing base that extend from thecombustion chamber to an underside of the sealing base.

In one embodiment, the method may include directing a flame into thecombustion chamber for burning the wood inside the combustion chamber togenerate smoke that passes through the one or more smoke transferopenings and into the sealed space between the bottom major surface ofthe sealing base and the top major surface of the beverage.

In one embodiment, prior to directing the flame into the combustionchamber, a combustible material may be placed inside the combustionchamber.

In one embodiment, the smoke directing lip desirably has a ring shapeand surrounds the lower ends of the one or more smoke transfer openingsformed in the sealing base. The smoke directing lip may direct the smoketoward the top surface of the beverage so as to minimize the likelihoodof the smoke curling outwardly over the bottom major surface of thesealing base toward the outer perimeter of the sealing base where itcould escape from the sealed space rather than be infused into thebeverage.

In one embodiment, the sealing base preferably has a central regionhaving a first thickness and an outer perimeter having a secondthickness that is less than the first thickness.

In one embodiment, the top and bottom major surfaces of the sealing basepreferably taper inwardly toward one another between the central regionand the outer perimeter of the sealing base.

In one embodiment, the chimney stack and the smoke directing lip aredesirably aligned with the central region of the sealing base.

These and other preferred embodiments of the present patent applicationwill be described in more detail herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a top side of a cocktail smokingchimney, in accordance with one embodiment of the present patentapplication.

FIG. 1B is a side elevation view of the cocktail smoking chimney shownin FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a top plan view of the cocktail smoking chimney shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B.

FIG. 1D is a bottom view of the cocktail smoking chimney shown in FIGS.1A-1C.

FIG. 1E is a perspective view of an underside of the cocktail smokingchimney shown in FIGS. 1A-1D.

FIG. 2A is a schematic view of a first step of a method of infusingsmoke into a cocktail, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentpatent application.

FIG. 2B is a schematic view of a second step of a method of infusingsmoke into a cocktail, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentpatent application.

FIG. 2C is a schematic view of a third step of a method of infusingsmoke into a cocktail, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentpatent application.

FIG. 2D is a schematic view of a fourth step of a method of infusingsmoke into a cocktail, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentpatent application.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a cocktail smoking chimney covering an open,upper end of a glass, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentpatent application.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a butane torch positioned next to the cocktailsmoking chimney and the glass shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows the butane torch of FIG. 4 being used to direct a flameinto a combustion chamber of the cocktail smoking chimney of FIG. 4 forgenerating smoke inside the glass of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows the cocktail smoking chimney being removed from coveringthe open, upper end of the glass shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows a cocktail with infused smoke, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present patent application.

FIG. 8A is a schematic view of a first step of a method of infusing acocktail with smoke, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentpatent application.

FIG. 8B is a schematic view of a second step of a method of infusing acocktail with smoke, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentpatent application.

FIG. 8C is a schematic view of a third step of a method of infusing acocktail with smoke, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentpatent application.

FIG. 8D is a schematic view of a fourth step of a method of infusing acocktail with smoke, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentpatent application.

FIG. 8E is a schematic view of a fifth step of a method of infusing acocktail with smoke, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentpatent application.

FIG. 8F is a schematic view of a sixth step of a method of infusing acocktail with smoke, in accordance with one embodiment of present patentapplication.

FIG. 9 shows a cocktail smoking chimney with a glass inverted andcovering a chimney stack of the cocktail smoking chimney, in accordancewith one embodiment of the present patent application.

FIG. 10A shows containers that are designed for holding cocktail smokingpowder that is burned for generating smoke, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present patent application.

FIG. 10B shows one of the containers of FIG. 10A with a top lid removedfor exposing the cocktail smoking powder held therein, in accordancewith one embodiment of the present patent application.

FIG. 11A shows a plurality of cocktail smoking chips that are burned forgenerating smoke that is infused into a cocktail or beverage, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present patent application.

FIG. 11B shows a butane torch and a flame that is directed at thecocktail smoking chips for igniting the cocktail smoking chips of FIG.11A to generate smoke.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, in one embodiment, a cocktail smokingchimney 100 is preferably used for generating smoke that may be infusedinto a cocktail or beverage. In one embodiment, the cocktail smokingchimney 100 preferably includes a chimney stack 102 having a combustionchamber 104 that may be configured to receive combustible items such aswood chips (e.g., cocktail smoking chips), wood powder (e.g., cocktailsmoking powder), and/or spices (e.g., cinnamon).

In one embodiment, the cocktail smoking chimney 100 is made of acombustible material such as wood. In one embodiment, the cocktailsmoking chimney 100 may be made of one or more of the following woodtypes: apple, hickory, pecan, maple, cherry, and oak. In one embodiment,the wood may include barrel-aged wood or mesquite infused wood.

In one embodiment, the chimney stack 102 preferably has an upper end 106and a lower end 108, whereby the chimney stack tapers inwardly betweenthe upper end 106 and the lower end 108. In one embodiment, the upperend 106 of the chimney stack 102 may be open for enabling the woodchips, wood powder and/or spices to be placed (e.g., packed) into thechimney stack 102.

In one embodiment, the cocktail smoking chimney 100 preferably includesa sealing base 110 having a top major surface 112 that faces toward theupper end 106 of the smoking chimney 102, and a bottom major surface 114that faces away from the upper end 106 of the smoking chimney 102. Inone embodiment, the top major surface 112 preferably defines a top sideof the sealing base 110 and the bottom major surface 114 preferablydefines a bottom side of the sealing base.

In one embodiment, the top major surface 112 of the sealing base 110 istapered and the bottom major surface 114 of the sealing base is taperedso that a central region 111 of the sealing base is thicker than anouter perimeter region 115 of the sealing base.

In one embodiment, the top major surface 112 of the sealing base 110 istapered so that an inverted drinking glass will self-center over thesealing base 110 when the inverted drinking glass is placed over thechimney stack 102, whereby a rim at an open, upper end of the drinkingglass engages the top major surface 112 of the sealing base 110.

In one embodiment, the bottom major surface 114 of the sealing base 110is tapered so that the cocktail smoking chimney 100 and the sealing base110 will self-center over a rim at an open, upper end of a drinkingglass when the sealing base 110 covers the open, upper end of thedrinking glass.

Referring to FIG. 1B, in one embodiment, the cocktail smoking chimney100 preferably includes a smoke directing lip 116 that projects from thebottom major surface 114 of the sealing base 110 for directing smokeinto the open, upper end of a drinking glass (e.g., a cocktail glass),while preventing the smoke from curling up the bottom major surface 114of the sealing base 110 and flowing toward the outer perimeter region115 of the sealing base 110.

In one embodiment, the sealing base 110 preferably has an outer diameterOD₁ that is sufficiently large to cover the opening of a drinking glasswhen the sealing base is placed over the drinking glass opening. In oneembodiment, the outer diameter OD₁ of the sealing base 110 may be about4-10 inches and more preferably about 5-8 inches.

In one embodiment, the sealing base 110 preferably has a central regionhaving a first thickness T1 and the outer perimeter 115 has a secondthickness T2 that is less than the first thickness T1. In oneembodiment, the top and bottom major surfaces 112, 114 of the sealingbase 110 taper inwardly toward one another between the central region111 of the sealing base 110 and the outer perimeter 115 of the sealingbase 110.

In one embodiment, when the cocktail smoking chimney 100 is placed atopa rim at an open, upper end of a drinking glass, the tapered bottommajor surface 114 of the sealing base 110 preferably self-centers thecocktail smoking chimney 100 over the opening of the drinking glass tofacilitate the formation of an effective seal between the underside ofthe sealing base 110 and the rim of the drinking glass.

In another embodiment, when a drinking glass is inverted and placed overthe top side of the cocktail smoking chimney 100, the tapered top majorsurface 112 preferably self-centers the drinking glass over the chimneystack 102 to facilitate the formation of an effective seal between therim of the inverted drinking glass and the top side of the sealing base110.

In one embodiment, the outer surface of the chimney stack 102 mayinclude two annular rings 135A, 135B that extend around the outerperimeter of the chimney stack. In one embodiment, the annular rings135A, 135B may be grooves that are formed in the outer surface of thechimney stack 102 using wood-working tools. In one embodiment, theannular rings 135A, 135B may be parallel to one another. In oneembodiment, a small point chisel may be used to form small annulardepressions in the outer surface of the chimney stack, and a wire may beused to burn the annular rings 135A, 135B (e.g., grooves). In oneembodiment, the annular rings 135A, 135B are added to the chimney stackfor aesthetic reasons to improve the ornamental appearance of thecocktail smoking chimney 100.

Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1C, and 1D, in one embodiment, the cocktailsmoking chimney 100 preferably includes a plurality of smoke transferopenings 118A-118D that are located inside the combustion chamber 104 ofthe chimney stack 102 and that extend completely through the thicknessof the sealing base. In one embodiment, the smoke transfer openings118A-118D are preferably open between the top major surface 112 of thesealing base 110 to the bottom major surface 114 of the sealing base110.

In one embodiment, the chimney stack 102 is preferably located in acenter of the sealing base 110. The chimney stack 102 preferablyprojects above the top major surface 112 of the sealing base 110. Thesmoke transfer openings 118A-118D desirably provide fluid communicationbetween the combustion chamber 104 located on a top side of the sealingbase 110 and the underside of the sealing base so that smoke may passthrough the smoke transfer openings from the top side to the bottom sideof the sealing base.

Referring to FIGS. 1B and 1D, in one embodiment, the smoking directinglip 116 projects downwardly from the bottom major surface 114 of thesealing base 110 and desirably surrounds the smoking transfer openings118A-118D. The smoke directing lip 116 preferably directs smoke thatpasses through the smoke transfer opening 118A-118D toward a top surfaceof a liquid (e.g., a cocktail; an alcoholic beverage) that has beenpoured into a cocktail glass, thereby preventing the smoke from curlingup or flowing in an outer direction toward the outer periphery 115 ofthe sealing base 110.

Referring to FIG. 1E, in one embodiment, the chimney stack 102preferably projects upwardly from a top major surface 112 (FIG. 1B) ofthe sealing base 110. The smoke directing lip 116 preferably projectsbelow the bottom major surface 114 of the sealing base 110. The smokedirecting lip 116 preferably surrounds the smoke transfer openings118A-118D, which extend from the combustion chamber 104 of the chimneystack 102 (FIG. 1A) to the underside of the sealing base 110 forallowing smoke to pass through the sealing base. Referring to FIGS. 1Aand 1D, in one embodiment, any smoke that is present and/or generatedwithin the combustion chamber 104 of the chimney stack 102 of thecocktail smoking chimney 100 may pass through the smoke transferopenings 118A-118D to reach the underside of the sealing base 110 forbeing directed into an open, upper end of a drinking glass that ispositioned below the bottom major surface 114 of the sealing base 110.

Referring to FIGS. 1A-1E, in one embodiment, the cocktail smokingchimney 100 is preferably constructed from wood that is cut down tosize. In one embodiment, the cocktail smoking chimney 100 may be formedusing a lathe. In one embodiment, a wood block may be rotated on alathe. As the wood block is rotated on the lathe, chisels andwood-working tools may be used for shaping the wood block to form thevarious elements of the cocktail smoking chimney 100 including thechimney stack 102, the combustion chamber 104, the sealing base 110, andthe smoke directing lip 116. A drill, such as a drill press, may be usedfor forming the smoke transfer openings 118A-118D that extend throughthe sealing base 110 for providing communication between the combustionchamber 104 and the underside of the sealing base.

In one embodiment, the chimney stack 102, the combustion chamber 104,the sealing base 110, and the smoke directing lip 116 are formed from asingle piece of wood, whereby all of the above-noted elements areintegrally connected with one another.

Although the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1E shows four (4) smoke transferopenings 118A-118D, other embodiments may have fewer smoke transferopenings (e.g., three) or more smoke transfer openings (e.g., eight). Inone embodiment, a cocktail smoking chimney may have 2-25 smoke transferopenings. In one embodiment, instead of drilling holes to form the smoketransfer openings, the sealing base may have a central opening that isdisposed between the top and bottom major surfaces of the sealing base110. A screen may be secured within the central opening for supportingcombustible material (e.g., wood powder) within the combustion chamber104 of the chimney stack 102 of the cocktail smoking chimney 100.

In one embodiment, a cocktail smoking chimney may be formed from a woodblock using a router system or router machine such as a three-axis orfive-axis router system sold by Hendrick Manufacturing of Salem, Mass.;https://www.hendrickmanufacturing.com/cnc-routers/.

Referring to FIG. 2A, in one embodiment, the cocktail smoking chimney100 shown in FIGS. 1A-1E may be positioned over an open, upper end of adrinking glass 120 (e.g., a cocktail glass), which contains a liquid 122(e.g., a cocktail; an alcoholic beverage) that has been poured in thedrinking glass 120.

Referring to FIG. 2B, in one embodiment, the sealing base 110 of thecocktail smoking chimney 100 preferably seals the open, upper end of thedrinking glass 120. A butane torch 124 is preferably activated fordirecting a flame 125 into the combustion chamber 104 of the chimneystack 102 to burn a section of the cocktail smoking chimney 100 that islocated inside the combustion chamber 104. In one embodiment, the flame125 may be directed into the combustion chamber 104 for up to 60 secondsand more preferably about 15-30 seconds. In one embodiment, as the woodsinside the combustion chamber 14 burns, smoke is generated. Thegenerated smoke preferably flows through the smoke transfer openings118A-118D (FIGS. 1C-1E) and into a sealed space 128 that is locatedbetween the bottom major surface 114 of the sealing base 110 and thebeverage 122 that has been poured into the drinking glass 120 forinfusing the smoke into the beverage 122.

Referring to FIG. 2C, in one embodiment, after the smoke 126 has beengenerated (e.g., by burning a section of the cocktail smoking chimney100), the smoke preferably passes through the smoke transfer openings118A-118D (FIG. 1E) at the underside of the sealing base 110 and intothe sealed space 128 that is located between the bottom major surface114 of the sealing base 110 and the top surface of the beverage 122 thathas been previously poured into the drinking glass 120. The smoke 126preferably passes through the smoke transfer openings of the cocktailsmoking chimney for infusing the beverage 122 with the smoke. In oneembodiment, when smoking, the cocktail smoking chimney may be left atopthe drinking glass for up to two minutes and more preferably about 30-60seconds.

Referring to FIG. 2D, in one embodiment, after the smoke 126 has beeninfused into the beverage 122 disposed within the drinking glass 120,the cocktail smoking chimney 100 (FIG. 2C) may be removed so that thesmoke-infused beverage may be consumed by an individual.

Referring to FIG. 3, in one embodiment, the cocktail smoking chimney 100is placed over an open, upper end of a drinking glass 120 so that theopening of the cocktail glass 120 is covered and sealed by the bottommajor surface 114 of the sealing base 110 of the cocktail smokingchimney 100. Although not shown in FIG. 3, in one embodiment, before thecocktail smoking chimney is placed atop the open, upper end of thedrinking glass 120, a liquid (e.g., a cocktail; an alcoholic beverage)may be poured into the drinking glass.

Referring to FIG. 4, in one embodiment, the butane torch 124 ispositioned adjacent the cocktail glass 120 and the cocktail smokingchimney 100 that has been positioned atop the open, upper end of thedrinking glass 120 for sealing the top of the drinking glass.

Referring to FIG. 5, in one embodiment, the butane lighter 124 isactivated for producing a flame that may be directed into the combustionchamber 104 of the chimney stack 102 of the cocktail smoking chimney100. The flame (not shown) that is directed into the combustion chamber104 desirably burns some of the material of the cocktail smoking chimney100 to generate smoke that passes through the smoke transfer openings118A-118D (FIG. 1C) and into the sealed space 128 that extends betweenthe bottom major surface 114 of the sealing base 110 and the top surfaceof the beverage 122 that was previously poured into the drinking glass120. Burning a section of the material that comprises the cocktailsmoking chimney 100 desirably generates smoke that passes through thesmoke transfer openings and into the sealed space 128 for infusing thesmoke into the beverage 122.

Referring to FIG. 6, in one embodiment, after the smoke has been forcedthrough the smoking transfer openings of the cocktail smoking chimney100, the cocktail smoking chimney may be removed from the open, upperend of the drinking glass 120 to provide a smoke-infused cocktail thatmay be enjoyed by an individual.

Referring to FIG. 7, in one embodiment, after the smoke 126 has beeninfused into the beverage 122, the cocktail smoking chimney 100 may belifted away from the open, upper end of the drinking glass 120,whereupon the smoke 126 that has been infused into the drinking glass120 and the beverage 122 may waif above the drinking glass 122 forcreating an anesthetically pleasing appearance.

In one embodiment, smoke may be infused into a drinking glass (and acocktail) by inverting the drinking glass and placing it atop a topmajor surfaced of a sealing base of a cocktail smoking chimney,whereupon the drinking glass covers a chimney stack of the cocktailsmoking chimney.

Referring to FIG. 8A, in one embodiment, a smoke-infused cocktail may bemade by positioning a cocktail smoking chimney 100 atop a surface. Inone embodiment, wood chips, wood powder, and/or spices may be placed(e.g., packed) into the combustion chamber 104 of the chimney stack 102.In one embodiment, the wood chips, wood powder and/or spices may be heldwithin a container 130. In one embodiment, the container 130 may have atop lid that may be removed for exposing the wood chips, wood powderand/or spices. In one embodiment, the container 130 may be tilted fordispensing the wood chips, wood powder and/or spices from the containerand into the combustion chamber 104 of the chimney stack 102.

Referring to FIG. 8B, in one embodiment, a butane torch 124 may beutilized for burning the combustible material that has been placed intothe combustion chamber 104 of the chimney stack 102 of the cocktailsmoking chimney 100. In one embodiment, the butane torch 124 isactivated for generating a flame 125 that is directed into thecombustion chamber 104 for igniting the combustible material within thecombustion chamber 104 of the chimney stack 102.

Referring to FIG. 8C, in one embodiment, after the combustible materialwithin the combustion chamber 104 has been ignited to generate smoke, adrinking glass 120 (e.g., a cocktail glass) may be inverted for beingpositioned over the chimney stack 102 of the cocktail smoking chimney100.

FIG. 8D illustrates the inverted drinking glass 120 positioned over thechimney stack 102 of the cocktail smoking chimney 100. The smoke 126generated within the combustion chamber 104 of the chimney stack 102preferably flows into the inverted drinking glass 120. In oneembodiment, the smoke 126 is allowed to fill the inside of the inverteddrinking glass 120 for up to two minutes and more preferably about 30-60seconds.

Referring to FIG. 8E, in one embodiment, after the smoke 126 (FIG. 8D)has filled the inside of the drinking glass 120, a beverage 122 (e.g., acocktail) contained in a bottle 132 may be poured into the open, upperend of the drinking glass for at least partially filling the drinkingglass with the beverage 122.

FIG. 8F shows the smoke-infused beverage 122 after it has been pouredinto the drinking glass 120. The smoke 126 that has been previouslydirected into the cocktail glass 120 preferably infuses into thebeverage 122. The smoke, which is desirably infused into the beverage,may waif above the open, upper end of the drinking glass 120 to providean aesthetically pleasing appearance and a desirably smoky aroma.

Referring to FIG. 9, in one embodiment, a drinking glass 120 (e.g., acocktail glass) is inverted and the open, upper end of the drinkingglass 120 is placed over a top major surface 112 of a sealing base 110of a cocktail smoking chimney 100. In one embodiment, the top majorsurface 112 may be tapered, which facilitates self-centering of thedrinking glass 120 over the sealing base 110 of the cocktail smokingchimney 100. Combustible material (e.g., wood chips; wood powder;spices) may be positioned (e.g., packed) within the combustion chamber104 of the chimney stack 102 of the cocktail smoking chimney 100. Thecombustible material may be burned for generating smoke that fills theinterior 128 of the inverted drinking glass 120. After the interiorsealed space 128 of the drinking glass 120 has been filled with thesmoke (e.g., after about 30-60 seconds) generated within the combustionchamber 104 of the chimney stack 102, the drinking glass 120 may belifted away from the cocktail smoking chimney 100, and oriented intoupright configuration so that a beverage may be poured into the drinkingglass. The smoke that has been generated inside the drinking glass willpreferably infuse into the beverage for providing a smoke-infusedbeverage (e.g., a smoke infused cocktail; a smoke infused alcoholicbeverage).

Referring to FIG. 10A, in one embodiment, a system for infusing smokeinto a beverage may include containers 130 that hold combustiblematerial that may be burned inside the combustion chamber of the chimneystack of the cocktail smoking chimney disclosed herein for generatingsmoke that may be infused into beverages.

Referring to FIG. 10B, in one embodiment, the container 130 may includea bottom container part 134 that holds wood powder 136 that may beburned. The container 130 may have a top lid 138 that covers the bottomcontainer part 134.

Referring to FIG. 11A, in one embodiment, wood chips 236 may be utilizedfor generating smoke that is infused into beverages. The wood chips 236may be placed inside a combustion chamber of a chimney stack of one ofthe cocktail smoking chimneys disclosed herein. In one embodiment, thewood chips 236 are larger in size than the wood powder 136 shown anddescribed above in FIG. 10B.

Referring to FIG. 11B, in one embodiment, a butane torch 124 or otherflame generating device may be utilized for generating a flame 125 thatis directed at the wood chips 236 for igniting the wood chips togenerate smoke that may be infused into a beverage or a drinking glassto generate a smoke-infused beverage (e.g., a smoking cocktail).

In one embodiment, the wood chips and wood powder may include one ormore of the following wood types: apple, hickory, pecan, maple, cherry,and oak. In one embodiment, the wood chips and/or wood powder mayinclude barrel-aged wood or mesquite infused wood.

In one embodiment, the spices that are burned inside the combustionchamber may include cinnamon, rosemary, and chai.

While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention,other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised withoutdeparting from the basic scope thereof, which is only limited by thescope of the claims that follow. For example, the present inventioncontemplates that any of the features shown in any of the embodimentsdescribed herein, or incorporated by reference herein, may beincorporated with any of the features shown in any of the otherembodiments described herein, or incorporated by reference herein, andstill fall within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cocktail smoking chimney for infusing smokeinto a beverage comprising: a sealing base having a top major surfaceand a bottom major surface; a chimney stack projecting from the topmajor surface of said sealing base; a combustion chamber disposed withinsaid chimney stack; a smoke directing lip projecting from the bottommajor surface of said sealing base, wherein said combustion chamberdisposed within said chimney stack is in alignment with said smokedirecting lip projecting from the bottom major surface of said sealingbase; one or more smoke transfer openings formed in said sealing base,each said smoke transfer opening having an upper end in communicationwith said combustion chamber and a lower end in communication with anunderside of said sealing base.
 2. The cocktail smoking chimney asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said sealing base, said chimney stack andsaid smoke directing lip are formed from a single piece of wood and areintegrally connected with one another.
 3. The cocktail smoking chimneyas claimed in claim 2, wherein said wood used to make said cocktailsmoking chimney is selected from the group of wood consisting of apple,hickory, pecan, maple, cherry, oak, barrel-aged wood, and wood infusedwith mesquite.
 4. The cocktail smoking chimney as claimed in claim 1,wherein said sealing base has a center, and wherein said chimney stackis aligned with the center of said sealing base.
 5. The cocktail smokingchimney as claimed in claim 4, wherein said smoke directing lip isaligned with the center of said sealing base.
 6. The cocktail smokingchamber as claimed in claim 5, wherein the upper ends of said one ormore smoke transfer openings are located inside said chimney stack andthe lower ends of said one or more smoke transfer openings aresurrounded by said smoke directing lip.
 7. The cocktail smoking chimneyas claimed in claim 1, wherein said sealing base has a central regionhaving a first thickness and an outer perimeter having a secondthickness that is less than the first thickness, and wherein the top andbottom major surfaces of said sealing base taper toward one anotherbetween the central region and the outer perimeter thereof.
 8. Thecocktail smoking chimney as claimed in claim 7, wherein said sealingbase has a disc shape.
 9. The cocktail smoking chimney as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising a screen disposed within said combustionchamber of said chimney stack.
 10. The cocktail smoking chimney asclaimed in claim 1, further comprising a combustible material disposedwithin said combustion chamber of said chimney stack.
 11. The cocktailsmoking chimney as claimed in claim 10, wherein said combustiblematerial is selected from the group consisting of wood chips, woodpowder, and spices.
 12. A cocktail smoking chimney for infusing smokeinto a beverage comprising: a sealing base having a central region, anouter perimeter, a top major surface that extends between the centralregion and the outer perimeter, and a bottom major surface that extendsbetween the central region and the outer perimeter; a chimney stackaligned with the central region of said sealing base and projectingabove the top major surface of said sealing base; a combustion chamberdisposed within said chimney stack; a smoke directing lip aligned withthe central region of said sealing base and projecting below the bottommajor surface of said sealing base, wherein said combustion chamberdisposed within said chimney stack is aligned with said smoke directinglip projecting below the bottom major surface of said sealing base; oneor more smoke transfer openings formed in said sealing base, whereineach said smoke transfer opening has an upper end in fluid communicationwith said combustion chamber and a lower end that is surrounded by saidsmoke directing lip, and wherein said sealing base, said chimney stack,and said smoke directing lip are made of wood.
 13. The cocktail smokingchimney as claimed in claim 12, wherein the central region of saidsealing base has a first thickness and the outer perimeter of saidsealing base has a second thickness that is less than the firstthickness.
 14. The cocktail smoking chimney as claimed in claim 13,wherein the top and bottom major surfaces of said sealing base taperinwardly toward one another between the central region of said sealingbase and the outer perimeter of said sealing base.
 15. The cocktailsmoking chamber as claimed in claim 12, wherein said chimney stack hasan open, upper end that is spaced away from the top major surface ofsaid sealing base and a lower end that is connected with the top majorsurface of said sealing base, and wherein said chimney stack has anouter perimeter that tapers inwardly between the open, upper end and thelower end thereof.
 16. The cocktail smoking chimney as claimed in claim12, further comprising a combustible material disposed within saidcombustion chamber of said chimney stack.
 17. A method of infusing smokeinto a beverage comprising: pouring a beverage into a drinking glass;placing a cocktail smoking chimney made of wood over a rim at an openupper end of said drinking glass to define a sealed space inside saiddrinking glass that is located between an underside of said cocktailsmoking chimney and a top surface of said beverage; said cocktailsmoking chimney including a sealing base having a top major surface thatfaces away from said drinking glass and a bottom major surface that isin contact with said rim at the open upper end of said drinking glass, achimney stack projecting from the top major surface of said sealingbase, a combustion chamber disposed within said chimney stack, and oneor more smoke transfer openings formed in said sealing base that extendfrom said combustion chamber to an underside of said sealing base;directing a flame into said combustion chamber for burning the woodinside said combustion chamber to generate smoke that passes throughsaid one or more smoke transfer openings and into the sealed spacebetween the bottom major surface of said sealing base and the top majorsurface of said beverage.
 18. The method as claimed in claim 17, furthercomprising, prior to the directing a flame step, placing a combustiblematerial inside said combustion chamber.
 19. The method as claimed inclaim 17, wherein said smoke directing lip has a ring shape andsurrounds the lower ends of said one or more smoke transfer openingsformed in said sealing base.
 20. The method as claimed in claim 17,wherein said sealing base has a central region having a first thicknessand an outer perimeter having a second thickness that is less than thefirst thickness, wherein the top and bottom major surfaces of saidsealing base taper inwardly toward one another between the centralregion and the outer perimeter of said sealing base, and wherein saidchimney stack and said smoke directing lip are aligned with the centralregion of said sealing base.